Meghan Markle Shares Her Family's Low-Key Thanksgiving Plans: Why Most People Get It Wrong

Honestly, the way people talk about the Sussexes, you’d think every holiday at their place is some massive, gold-plated gala with a hundred-person guest list and a dress code. It’s not. In fact, it’s kinda the opposite. Meghan Markle shares her family's low-key Thanksgiving plans every year now, and it’s usually way more "sweatpants and kitchen chaos" than "palace protocol."

If you're expecting a royal herald to announce the turkey, you're going to be disappointed.

The Montecito Garden Strategy

Basically, the whole vibe starts in the dirt. This year, Meghan gave us a peek into the prep, and it’s all about the backyard. We’re talking about their massive Montecito garden. She, Harry, and the kids—Archie’s six now, and Lili is four—actually spend the days leading up to the holiday harvesting their own herbs.

The big star? Sage.

Meghan’s been obsessed with this specific "Santa Barbara" flowering sage. It’s got these gorgeous purple hues that look like lavender, but the scent is all autumn. In her recent "As Ever" newsletter, she mentioned how the family takes these sun-drenched strolls where Harry checks on the beehives (yes, they have their own bees) while the kids and the dogs, Pula and Mia, run around.

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That sage isn’t just for looks. She’s been infusing it into honey to create a Sage Honey Glaze for the turkey. She literally whisks it with Dijon mustard and lemon. It sounds fancy, but she’s the first to tell you that "fancy" isn't the goal—comfort is.

What Prince Harry Actually Demands

You might think the Duke of Sussex has some refined, British palate that requires a specific type of stuffing or a certain brand of cranberry sauce. Nope.

According to Meghan, there is one non-negotiable on the table. Harry would "never forgive" her if she forgot the gravy. It has to be rich, it has to be homemade, and it has to be everywhere. She even shared a hack for it: use a splash of soy sauce or tamari for depth. It’s a total pro move that keeps the "meatiness" hitting hard without needing 20 pounds of drippings.

Low-Key Doesn't Mean "Doing It All"

One of the most human things she’s shared lately is her stance on hosting. She’s a big believer in the "open-door policy." She told Marie Claire that they always make sure there’s room for friends who don’t have family nearby. Remember when Gloria Steinem showed up at their table? That’s the vibe.

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But here’s the kicker: she isn't trying to win a Michelin star.

• Prep is everything. She chops all the veggies a day early.
• Accept help. She’s gone on record saying there’s "no gold star" for doing it all yourself. If someone wants to bring a pie, she says yes.
• The "Station" Trick. She loves setting up "stations" in the kitchen so people can serve themselves.
• Store-bought is fine. She actually got a little heat recently for suggesting people use frozen pancakes or store-bought quiche for holiday breakfasts. Honestly? Relatable. If you’re cooking a 20-pound bird, who has time to flip 30 pancakes from scratch?

The "With Love, Meghan" Effect

We’ve seen more of this through her Netflix special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. She’s been cooking alongside people like Naomi Osaka and Tom Colicchio, but the heart of it is her mom, Doria Ragland.

Doria lives nearby, so she’s a fixture at these "low-key" dinners. They’ve even started a tradition of making gumbo on Christmas Eve—a recipe passed down from Doria—which serves as a spicy, California-style precursor to the more traditional Thanksgiving turkey the next day.

Why This Matters for Your Own Table

You don’t need a $14 million mansion to steal her hosting philosophy. Her main "sage advice" (pun intended) is that if the host is stressed, the guests are stressed.

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She uses unscented candles in the kitchen so the food smell isn't competing with "pumpkin spice" or "midnight jasmine." She puts scented ones in the living room. It’s a tiny detail, but it’s the kind of thing that makes a house feel like a home instead of a restaurant.

Actionable Insights for a Meghan-Inspired Holiday:

1. Infuse Your Own Honey: Take some dried sage or rosemary, let it sit in a jar of local honey for a week, and use it as your turkey glaze.
2. The "Yes" Rule: Next time a guest asks, "What can I bring?" don't say "nothing." Tell them to bring the ice cream or a specific wine.
3. Games over Gadgets: The Sussexes reportedly ditch the phones for board games like Scrabble or Sequence.
4. Advance Prep: If it can be chopped on Wednesday, chop it on Wednesday.

At the end of the day, Meghan Markle shares her family's low-key Thanksgiving plans not to brag about her garden, but to remind everyone that the "magic" isn't in the perfection—it's in the messy, loud, gravy-covered moments with the people who actually know you.